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Winfield Urges Students to Strive for Greatness

Sharing Message: “You don’t have to be perfect to be perfected”

Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) Tuesday addressed a group of more than 100 young people at Capital Community College in Hartford, urging the students present to challenge themselves to work harder and actively strive toward creating the life they want.

Sen. Winfield was a featured speaker during the JAG CT 2016 Career Development Conference, which also included student sessions on public speaking, career planning, employability skills, problem solving and critical thinking.

During his speech to students, Winfield departed from the podium and eventually turned off his mic altogether—instead, rotating through the room so he could speak directly to the audience, which turned its focus squarely to him.

“I know what you’re thinking, how you live, where you come from—because I am you,” said Sen. Winfield, who spoke of his background, hometown community, and unconventional track to his Senatorial seat. “I’m here today because I didn’t listen to all of the things people said I couldn’t do. Try hard at what you do, because otherwise you won’t know what’s possible.”

The Senator was frank with students, saying no one will take on challenges for them that they must take on themselves.

“Challenge yourself to do more, and don’t miss the opportunities as they present themselves,” said Sen. Winfield. “You will be the finished product of you, no matter what you do. It takes effort. You get things by trying—have you tried hard enough?”

“It’s a process, and the kind of life you lead will be determined by how hard you strive for what you want. You don’t have to be ‘perfect’ to be perfected,” said Sen. Winfield.

JAG CT, which operates under the auspices of the Connecticut Department of Labor and is funded through a number of state agencies, is available to seniors at East Hartford High School, Manchester High School, New Britain High School and the New Britain High School Satellite Career Academy, and at Hillhouse High and New Horizons in New Haven.

Capital Community in College in Hartford touts itself as the most diverse college in New England; its enrollment including students of all backgrounds from 100 of Connecticut towns, as well as international students.